The Easiest Methods to Keep Your Vinyl Floors Clean
Having clean floors immediately gives off the impression of a well-kept home. With different kinds of tiles and flooring available, some may think that all cleaning methods work for all kinds of flooring. The fact is, they don’t; different kinds of flooring also require different methods for keeping it spic and span.
If you chose to have vinyl floors inside your home, you’re in luck since they require very little maintenance unlike other kinds of flooring. Not only that, they are also quite sturdy and can even withstand drops that ceramic or porcelain floors won’t. However, you still need to do some proper maintenance to make it constantly looking like it has just been freshly installed by Salem’s tile expert.
Fortunately, keeping vinyl floors clean does not require a lot of manpower and you can even do it yourself. Here are a few tips to make sure that your vinyl floors are kept in great condition:
1. Place a doormat at all entrances to your home. What better way to keep your vinyl floors from getting dirty by not letting in dirt in the first place? They say that prevention is better than cure in terms of our health but this is also applicable to vinyl floors. Doormats have fibers that will trap the dirt from the soles of your shoes, minimizing potential damage to your floors.
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2. Regularly sweep your vinyl floors. Despite being a low-maintenance type of flooring, you still need to do some sweeping when it comes to vinyl floors. Dust, even while hardly visible, will accumulate all over your home no matter what you do and this includes on your floors, especially under furniture. A soft brush will do but for a more thorough cleaning, why not bring out your vacuum cleaner every now and then?
3. Determine the type of vinyl floor installed and use the right cleaner for it. Some vinyl floors nowadays come with a special coating, particularly a polyurethane coating, that does not require waxing to keep it looking shiny. If you have this kind of floor, make sure to follow instructions and do not apply any kind of wax to it, as the wax would not be absorbed and will likely leave a mess instead that would be harder to clean. There are special polishes and sealants specifically for use with these “no wax” vinyl floors.
If you can apply wax to your flooring, only do so when it has lost its sheen and follow the instructions for it. Unnecessary waxing might even damage it over time. Also, avoid using paste wax polishes since the film it leaves behind has the tendency to build up over time. Instead, you can use a mixture of a gallon of warm water, one cup of apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of baby oil.
4. Immediately clean up any spills. Liquids, even as simple as plain water, can stain vinyl floors if left on the floor for some time, despite these floors being non-absorbent. If the liquid is spilled on the joints or edges, it can even get under the flooring and this might cause damage to your floor and even the underfloor. This is why it is recommended to mop up your floors with a dry cloth after mopping it with any water solution.
In case the spilled liquid is acidic, such as wine, tomato sauce, or fruit juices, mix baking soda with water to make a paste and rub it immediately on the floor with a soft towel until the stain disappears.
If you need advice on the upkeep of your floor, contacting a tile expert in Salem is your best bet. An expert can easily answer all your questions involving the maintenance of your vinyl floors and even make recommendations on how to fix any trouble you might have with it.
Tile With A Smile is always ready to help you out with all these concerns. No floor or tile-related question is too big or too small for us, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any related issues that you want us to check out for you. We’re always glad to help.
